Russian Federation Sitrep – 5 August 2016

Russian President Vladimir Putin uses binocular as he watches military exercise near Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, on Sakhalin Island on Tuesday, July 16, 2013. The maneuvers in Siberia and the far eastern region involved 160,000 troops and about 5,000 tanks - a massive show of force unprecedented since the Soviet times. Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu sits at left. (AP Photo/RIA Novosti, Alexei Nikolsky, Presidential Press Service, Pool)

This article was first published by Russia Observer and is republished with the permission of the author.

RUSSIA-CHINA ALLIANCE. Beijing announced a Russia-China naval exercise in the South China Sea next month (“routine”, “not directed against third parties” of course). As I’ve said before: the lasting effects of a decade and a half of neocon influence (apart, of course, from lots of losing wars) will be the Moscow–Beijing alliance and the increased power of Iran.